Myanmar Day 8

Wearing brand new clothes provided by HF

Dear Friends,

Today we visited the last four of twenty-two orphanages (in this region) that receive monthly sponsorship support through our Orphan’s Tear division. Our team has become quite adept in handling the “tasks” that go along with each visit, which include introductions, some fun dialogue, singing, passing out little gifts and candy, taking individual and group photos, playing games and meeting with the orphanage directors to discuss “business.” Every orphanage we visited today has benefitted, not only from regular child sponsorship, but also from a new dormitory provided through gifts to the Dorms for Orphanages Fund or Orphan’s Tear Special Gifts Fund. All are rejoicing in their blessings.

One of today’s orphanages was the Handicapped Care Center. Our team members are always amazed at how much joy they find among the children and young adults who live there, most of whom have been stricken with polio. Several can’t walk at all, and many must scoot on their hands and useless legs to get around. You can watch a video that we made about the Handicapped Care Center here that will give you a little taste of what we experienced today. Words cannot do it justice. I found myself making a $7,000 promise to the director, Peter Mang, to buy a parcel of land that is adjacent to their property that is really needed for growing fruits and vegetables.

The final orphanage that we visited today was the first place that I shed some tears. The middle-aged director died of cancer a few months ago. (We had been paying for his medical treatment.) When I met his widow upon our arrival, we both started crying. She is carrying on in his absence, taking care of almost 100 children. Her mother-in-law, a dear friend of mine, is the founder of the orphanage, and she still helps even at age 79.

Tonight we gathered all the orphanage directors and their spouses, plus our interpreters, for a farewell dinner at our favorite $2-per-meal Chinese restaurant. That was the second place that I shed some tears today as I shared my heart during a short speech. Tomorrow we’re heading back to Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar, where we have three days to visit at least twelve other orphanages. Below are a few photos of today’s visits. — David

A few of the guys at the Handicapped Care Center Orphanage

A child at the Handicapped Care Center who suffered facial burns as a baby. She is holding some new clothes we purchased for her.

Team member Jeff Trotter with two of the HCC guys who are unable to walk at all

The 79-year-old founder of Jehovah Jireh Children’s Home

Team members Philip and Sandie Barker with the daughter of the director who died of cancer a few months ago

One of the hundreds of beautiful children whom we visited today

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